Cold Nights
Many seasons have passed since the Nura Head and she exchanged vows, became man and wife, and started their lives together.
"Ah...umm...your dinner's getting cold." She said timidly.
He wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her in for a kiss. Wearing a devilish smile, he pushes her down. "Don't worry, I'll heat things up. Over and over..."
"Now hold on a minute!" She protested. They were having dinner and here he goes again.
"When you make that scary face, it just has the opposite effect on me, you know?" He replied unperturbed.
Geez...
"All it does is make me want you more." He kisses her deeply, stealing the power to resist. "I love you, Yohime." He followed it with a kiss on the tip of her nose. "Do you give in?"
"I cant fight against you." She relented
"That's my line. Im a prisoner to your love." he continued professing his feelings. A rare moment.
Locked in his tender embrace, they shared a long, slow kiss.
.
"Awww. The food is cold. And I really worked hard to make it too." She pouted after their passionate encounter.
"Please dont make such a pitiful face. It doesnt suit you."
"That's easy for you to say."
"Dont worry about it. Even though it's gotten cold, it's still good because it was made with love." He says and then happily crams his mouth full of cold rice.
She beamed a smile at him. I'm so happy we're able to live together like this and enjoy a calm, stable everyday existence.
Nurarihyon can still be as overbearing as ever, but he's quick to be affectionate too.
Everyday is pure bliss.
However, there is one thing that has been bothering her.
.
.
"Yohime?" His soft whisper near her ear woke her, but she didnt move. "You're asleep, huh?"
"Sweetdreams, princess." He softly mutters. With a slightly gloomy look upon his face, he exits the room.
Her eyelids rise slowly to reveal Nurarihyon heading out the door of their bedroom.
He's going out again at this hour.
How long has it been since she's become aware of his night wanderings? Even though she knew about them, she cant muster the courage to ask what he's doing.
Hagoromo gitsune had been defeated in Kyoto. There was nothing else to be done anymore. He's used to doing his own thing. He's probably feeling bound by the rules and regulations of being a part of a noble family.
Perhaps he's bored with life in the city? It drives her crazy with anxiety, but that's the only thing that makes sense to her.
She tried to go back to sleep, but the bed feels so empty.
.
.
Night eventually turned to day, and the Supreme Commander of the Nura gumi was still nowhere to be found. She tried to act cheerful, but her emotions betray her, and tears start to stream down her cheeks.
"You dont need to hide it anymore. We can tell anyway."
"I..." Yohime no longer able to keep it a secret, pour her heart out.
She told the others about the Sodaisho's going out every night to pick fights. "I don't know what he's thinking... He probably regrets getting married to me..."
"Don't believe that for a second Yohime! I cant think of a man on this earth that wouldnt be happy to be your husband." Karasu-tengu chimed in.
"I'll never forgive him! How dare he make you cry, Yohime." Setsura was angry.
Gyuuki cast his eyes towards the ground and hands her a handkerchief. "I cant stand to see you cry. Please close your eyes and wipe the tears away." His expression was a little curt, but his kindness soothed her pain a little.
"Princess Yo, dont worry. Im going to give him a piece of my mind." Setsura offered.
A small smile graced her lips. Knowing the fierce yuki-onna, she might do just that.
"Im sorry to make you guys worry."
"There's no need to apologize, Princess Yo."
"But it's my fault that..." Her thoughts in an absolute mess.
"Excuse me, I need to get some fresh air." She hurried outside so no one will be able to see the tears gushing from her eyes. She sat on the wooden floors just outside the shoji doors. The household youkais gave her privacy.
The ice youkai turned to her direction, gave her a reassuring smile and then set out to look for the Yakuza lord.
What the hell is he thinking? Going out every night and leaving his new bride home alone?
That Nurarihyon!
Setsura would freeze his balls off when she sees him.
.
.
"Such a sorrowful face does not befit a lady like you."
She looked up to see the Keikan's 13th Head, inside his floating chariot, glancing outside its window.
He dispelled the incantations and the vehicle disappeared into a puff of smoke.
"It's because of stupid stunts like this that I still hold out hope for us." The chinky eyed, pale-skinned man chimed.
"You're awfully bold, Keikan! Yohime is a newly wed!" Karasu-tengu appeared from the roof, pointing his staff at the trespasser.
A moment later, the shoji doors opened revealing Gyuuki.
The youkai of the main house had clearly sensed the Keikan's arrival.
"Wha-! Dont start spreading such rumors." The heir raised both hands in fake submission. He wasnt the 13th Family Main branch head for nothing. He can take them down. But he didnt come here to fight.
"I'll never forgive Nurarihyon for making you cry, Yohime. But I think things arent as simple as they appear."
"What do you mean?"
"He might be a womanizing playboy, but he's not that stupid. There must be a reason he's acting the way he is."
"You might be right." Gyuuki acknowledged. "I have no doubt that Nurarihyon truly cares about you."
The stoic youkai remembered how his young lord carelessly went to Kyoto just to save the human girl. "There's probably a logical explanation behind his madness. Please believe in your husband."
"Actually, there is." The youkai exterminator spilled the beans.
.
When he didnt return home, she was so full of worry and regret that she couldnt sleep a wink. She found out from the Keikan Lord that a smaller youkai faction had been wreaking havoc in town. Her husband didn't want her involved since she will be most likely targeted by the enemies.
Not being able to bear just sitting around anymore, she put on some clothes and rush out the house.
Being that it was late into the night, the streets are barren and a little scary.
He's fighting again, isn't he?
"It's still too dark for you to be up and about princess." She heard the Keikan floating above-head.
"Take me to him." She didn't ask, she demanded.
.
.
This is his town. His territory. His turf. This is where his subordinates reside. Where his nakama lives. Where he and Yohime will build a family. And he will not allow anyone to destroy that.
"Hmm. You talk a big game but your skills are pathetic." The enemy taunted. "Lord of Pandemonium? Tch. You only won against Kyoto because you had the Keikan's help."
"Why, you little prick-!"
.
He rushes to the enemy without having any regards for my feelings.
"Nura-sama!"
Her outcry had him stop mid-attack. His sword hand, bearing Nenekimaru hang in the air.
"Yohime? What are you-?" The shocked look on his face was replaced by irritation when he saw who she came with.
"Keikan!" The enemy now forgotten, he reprimanded the chinky-eyed man. "Why'd you bring her here?"
"You owe her an explanation."
He looked her way only to see her forlorn face. Guilt immediately hit him. It was worse than having his heart torn and eaten by the demon fox in Kyoto.
He jumped to where she was standing. He reached out and softly touched her cheeks with his fingertips.
"I can see traces of the tears that ran down your face. I made you cry."
"Save the drama!" The enemy interrupted. "My comrades had already begun ransacking the nearby villages. The clan you so love will soon fall into ashes." The youkai menacingly laughed and disappeared.
Panic gripped him.
"I'll take care of her." The Keikan offered. "Go."
"Even if you dont trust me right now, there's nothing else I can do. Forgive me Yohime." He said with a fragile voice and then disappeared into the dawn.
Nura-sama...
.
.
The rest of the Nura Gumi upon orders had dispersed to even out the attacks instigated by the enemies.
It was gruesome and some civilians had to be evacuated.
Yohime helped facilitate the humans involved in the reckless attacks.
She healed the wounded. Be it humans and youkais.
"Sodaisho!" Nattou Kozou announced from afar.
"Supreme Commander, I'm glad you're okay." Karasu tengu cried comical tears.
"How's everyone?"
"The injured had all been patched up. The others are helping the civilians tidy up the damages."
"Is that so? Then, well and good-OOUUUCCHHCH!"
The lord of pandemonium didn't get to finish his sentence when the Yuki-onna smacked him upside the head. "You bloody idiot!" She wasn't contented so she landed him a kick at the back and sent him flying towards his wife.
"Oof. That woman!" The Nura head lay on the ground, beaten. "What's the big deal Setsu-"
"You deserve it."
"Eh? Yohime?"
He is so careless. He's injured and all he thinks about is everyone's well-being. That would have been good if he were single. But he is married now. And he had to learn to think of her feelings more often.
Nonetheless, she squatted down in front of him and held out her hand.
He pulled his away. Yes, he deserved to be kicked in the ass. And no, he doesn't deserve her healing.
"Let me heal your wound." She all but shout. Earning the dumbfounded looks of all the NuraGumi.
"I won't take no for an answer." She pouted and grabbed his arm.
"You've got sass, Yohime." Their unlikely ally jibed.
He threw the chinky eyed man a death glare."Shut your trap Keikan." Nurarihyon was still irritated that the 13th head brought Yohime to where the fight was.
Nurarihyon pushed himself off the ground and sat upright. "I don't know what kind of guy you think I am, but even though you are my wife, I won't put up with your nagging." He says as if annoyed.
He then lets out a deep breath. "Now stop it with that sad face. When I see you like that, it's the worst thing in the world for me."
Keikan whistled. "Someone's smitten."
"We're done talking. I don't want to fight with you right now." Nurarihyon stood and straightened himself. Yohime followed suit.
The princess looked back and mouthed a thank you towards the Keikan's direction. The omniyoji only winked back at her.
"I said let's go." He quickly grabbed her hand and proceeded to carry her in a tight embrace.
Without another word, they head home to the mansion atop the hill.
